Lace Hardanger 1935 - 1942

This 'Lace Hardanger' by an anonymous artist involves a process of pulling threads to create intricate patterns. When I look at it, I see the grid. It’s almost like a painting, but made of tiny gestures, tiny decisions. The contrast of white thread on the dark background is so striking! The whole piece, with its tight, controlled stitching, feels incredibly physical. You can almost feel the tension in the thread, the hours and hours of work it took to make. It's so much work, it really makes you think. The central motif, that radiating star or flower, is fascinating. It’s not perfect, there are little wobbles and imperfections. To me, this feels like a conversation with Agnes Martin, another artist working in grids. But where Martin's work is about quiet minimalism, this is all about folk craft, handmade labour and the beautiful imperfections that come with it.